Identification icon indicia for plug-in units of a power distribution system

ABSTRACT

Icon indicia are provided on input, output and plug-in power processing units to permit proper matching of plug-in units with each other and with the input and output power processing units in a power distribution system. The indicia are in a co-ordinated matrix format with input icons on a designated chroma background to identify input voltages and output icons on a second designated chroma background to identify output voltages. Icons and background chroma on the plug-in power processing units are coordinated with related icons and background chroma at the same matrix position on other plug-in units and/or the input and output units to assure the compatibility of all the units. A craftsman inserting a plug-in unit onto a shelf of the power chassis need merely compare the unit&#39;s icon and chroma background indicia with the input, output, or other unit&#39;s icons and associated chroma background indicia to be assured of inserting the correct plug-in unit into the particular shelf.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a power distribution system having a pluralityof differing plug-in units for processing power and in particular toicon indicia attached to the plug-in units to facilitate insertion intoplug-in stations included in a support chassis connected to a back planeof the power distribution system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power distribution systems normally can accommodate a variety of plug-inunits which plug into various back planes and enable the distribution ofvarious voltage and current levels of power. Given a particular powerdistribution scheme, the plug-in power units used must function inharmony with one another. This means that they must be properly selectedfor addition to the backplane. These selections are normally made by acrafts person who is familiar with the requirements of the plug-inunits. It is not uncommon for an incorrect unit to be plugged in due totime and other pressures causing plug-in unit preselection to be madeincorrectly. This may be due to confusing markings on the plug-in unitsor failure to understand the proper unit needed for a particular powerdistribution scheme.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, icon and background chroma (i.e. color) indicia are providedto facilitate proper matching of plug-in units in a power processingsystem.

In an illustrative embodiment, the indicia are in a coordinated matrixformat with unique graphical icons on a first chroma background toidentify the input voltage and/or current, and further unique graphicalicons on a second chroma background to identify the output voltageand/or current. Indicia on plug-in units are coordinated with relatedindicia on other units to assure the compatibility of all units withinthe power processing system.

A craftsperson inserting a unit into a power distribution system needmerely compare the unit's icon and chroma indicia with the indicia ofadjacent units to be assured of inserting the correct plug-in unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a pictorial schematic of a power system cabinet including aplurality of plug-in units which operate in concert to process power;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of one of the shelves of the cabinet of FIG. 1showing the faces of the plug-in units and the input and output units ofthe shelf;

FIG. 3 is a label for an output unit of the power system cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a label for a plug-in power processing unit for insertion onthe shelf of the power system cabinet; and

FIG. 5 is a label for an input unit of the power system cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A power processing system chassis or cabinet 100 as shown in the FIG. 1includes a plurality of power processing units 101, 102, 103 which slideinto a shelf of the cabinet and connect to a back plane at the rear ofthe shelf. Power processing units 102 and 103 at the end of the shelfprovide power processing and inter connection to a power source and toequipment to be powered. One of the plug-in power processing units 101is shown prior to being plugged into the shelf and consequent connectionto the backplane. The back plane electrically connects the plug-in units101 into the electrical system between an input power processing unitand an output power processing unit 103, whereby the plug-in powerprocessing units 101 are operative to provide processing of powerbetween the input power processing unit 102 and the output powerprocessing unit 103. As such, the plug-in power processing units 101must be compatible with the electrical specifications of the powerprocessing units 102 and 103 at the opposing ends of the shelves.

To insure compatibility in selection of the plug-in power processingunits 101 to other plug-in units and to the end input and output powerprocessing units 102, 103, all units are marked with indicia by way oficons and background chroma, associated with the icon, that insure thatcraft personal select the proper plug-in units to place on the shelf ofthe chassis. Each input power processing unit 102 and output powerprocessing unit 103 has identifying icon and background chroma indiciaon the labels 112 and 113, respectively, while each of the plug-in powerprocessing units 101 has a label 111 that includes identifying icons andbackground chroma indicia.

The nature of the indicia marking is illustrated in the FIG. 2 whichdepicts a frontal view of the shelf of FIG. 1 and the individual unitswith the labels and associated indicia. Each label is comprised of atleast an icon, a background chroma having a distinct frequency ofreflected light, and alphanumeric information that provides anoperational designation of the unit. The input power processing unit 102has an identification label 112 that identifies its purpose andpower/voltage ratings. The output power processing unit 103 similarlyhas an identification label that identifies its purpose andpower/voltage ratings power processing. Each of the plug-in units 101connects to a backplane in the power cabinet 100 and operates to processpower received from the input power processing unit 102 and deliver theprocessed power to the output power processing unit 103.

Exemplary labels are shown in detail in the FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The label112 of the input power unit 102 is shown in the FIG. 5. An exemplaryoutput power unit 103 label 113 is shown in FIG. 3 and an exemplarylabel 111 for a plug-in power processing unit 101 is shown in the FIG.4.

An exemplary input power processing unit 102 label 112, shown in FIG. 5,includes an input icon 122 identifying it as an input circuit.Associated with the icon 122 is a matrix of information in which theicon is replicated as part of a matrix tabular format which includes theicon 132 on a background of a first chroma with a first radiant energyfrequency (i.e. color) in one of the matrix positions. Immediately belowthe icon 132 is a designation of the input voltage and below that thedesignation “input wiring”.

An exemplary output power processing unit 103 label 113, shown in FIG.3, includes an output icon 123 identifying it as an output circuit.Associated with the icon 123 is a matrix of information in which theicon is replicated as part of a tabular matrix format which includes theicon 133 on a background of a second chroma with a second radiant energyfrequency (i.e. second color) in one of the matrix positions.Immediately below the icon 133 is a designation of the output voltageand below that the designation “output wiring.”

An exemplary plug-in power processing unit 101 label as shown in theFIG. 4 includes the designation “converter” in a matrix setting. Aboveit on the left is an input icon 121, on a chroma background keyed to theinput voltage unit's rating and below it the numerical voltage ring. Theinput icon 121 is on the left, as is the input unit 102 as shown in FIG.2. An output icon 124 is positioned to the right, as is the output unit103 as shown in the FIG. 2, and below it is the numerical output voltagerating for the plug-in converter unit to which the icon 124 chromabackground is keyed. As is apparent, units may be properly matched byreference to identical icon designations in identical matrix positions,by reference to identical chroma background in identical matrixpositions, by comparison of numerical designations, or by combinationsof the above. The specific position of indicia in the matrix matches thesame indicia in the matrix of another unit to which it is compatible. Inthe matter of neutral back ground chroma in a specific position, theunit is preferably compatible with another unit having any chroma inthat position.

A craftsman inserting units onto a shelf of the power housing needmerely compare the common icon designations and/or related chromabackground of a selected unit 102, output unit 103, or other unit's withthe input and output unit icons and associated background chroma to beassured of inserting the correct plug-in unit into the particular shelf.

We claim:
 1. A power plant, comprising: a supporting infrastructureincluding a shelf for accepting a plurality of modular power processingcircuits; an input distribution unit; an output distribution unit; aplurality of intermediate power processing units arranged in a linearseries and electrically connected intermediate the input distributionunit and the output distribution unit in order to process power suppliedfrom the input distribution unit and deliver power to the outputdistribution unit; the input distribution unit including means foraccepting power from a power source and further including a firstidentification indicia providing an indication of an output voltagesupplied to the plurality of intermediate power processing units by alabel having a first radiant energy frequency visually displaying afirst color in a first specific matrix position; the output distributionunit including means for distributing power to a load and furtherincluding a second identification indicia providing an indication of anappropriate input voltage to be supplied to it by the plurality ofintermediate power processing units by a label having a second radiantenergy frequency visually displaying a second color in a second specificmatrix position; identification indicia associated with each of theintermediate power processing units, including; a third identificationindicia providing an indication of an acceptable input voltage acceptedfrom the input distribution unit by including the first radiant energyfrequency visually displaying the first color in the first specificmatrix position, wherein a match between the voltage from the inputdistribution unit and the acceptable input voltage is indicated by anidentity of the radiant energy frequency displayed; and the thirdidentification indicia providing an indication of an output voltage ofthe intermediate power processing unit supplied to the outputdistribution unit by including the second radiant energy frequencyvisually displaying the second color in the second specific matrixposition, wherein a match between the output voltage of the intermediatedistribution unit is indicated by an identity of the radiant energyfrequency.
 2. A power plant as recited in claim 1, further comprising; afirst icon associated with the acceptable input voltage for each of saidplurality of intermediate processing units and appearing on the firstand third identification indicia and a second icon associated with thevoltage acceptable to the output distribution unit and appearing on thesecond and third identification indicia.
 3. An identification scheme forenabling proper matching of the electrical specifications of a pluralityof plug-in power processing units in a power chassis, including: indiciaaffixed to each of said plug-in power processing units, said indiciadisplayed in a coordinated matrix format with an input icon on a firstdesignated chroma background to identify input voltages and an outputicon on a second designated chroma background to identify outputvoltages, whereby comparison of said indicia on each of said plug-inpower processing units with said indicia on adjacent ones of saidplug-in power processing units facilitates proper selection of acompatible plug-in power processing unit.
 4. An identification schemefor enabling proper electrical specification matching of plug-in powerunits to an input power unit and an output power unit as claimed inclaim 3; the input icon comprising an arrow entering a circle and theoutput icon comprising an arrow emerging from a circle.
 5. Anidentification system for selecting a compatible plug-in powerprocessing unit for use in a power plant system having an input powerprocessing unit and an output power processing unit, comprising: a labelattached to each of said power processing units; compatibility matrix oneach of said labels; and indicia within a first position in each of saidcompatibility matrix designating the compatibility of said plug-in powerprocessing unit with said input unit and indicia within a secondposition in each of said compatibility matrix designating thecompatibility of said plug-in power processing unit with said outputunit, said compatibility being designated by common indicia within eachof said first and second positions in each of said compatibility matrixon each of said power processing units.
 6. An identification system forselecting compatible components for use in a power plant system having aplurality of power processing components, comprising: a label attachedto each of said power processing components; a compatibility matrix oneach of said labels; and indicia within each of said compatibilitymatrices designating operational characteristics of said powerprocessing components, whereby said compatible components are easilyselected by comparison of said indicia within like positions of each ofsaid compatibility matrices.
 7. The identification system as recited inclaim 5 wherein said indicia is a graphical icon or chroma.
 8. Theidentification system as recited in claim 6 wherein said indicia is agraphical icon or chroma.
 9. A power chassis having a plurality ofplug-in power processing units, comprising: indicia affixed to each ofsaid plug-in power processing units, said indicia displayed in acoordinated matrix format with an input icon on a first designatedchroma background to identify input voltages of said plug-in powerprocessing units and an output icon on a second designated chromabackground to identify output voltages of said plug-in power processingunits, whereby comparison of said indicia on one of each of said plug-inpower processing units with said indicia on adjacent ones of saidplug-in power processing units facilitates proper selection of acompatible plug-in power processing unit.
 10. A power processing systemhaving an input power processing unit, an output power processing unit,and a plurality of slots for receiving plug-in power processing units,said power processing system comprising: a label attached to each ofsaid power processing units; a compatibility matrix on each of saidlabels; and indicia within a first position in each of saidcompatibility matrices designating the compatibility of said plug-inpower processing unit with said input unit and indicia within a secondposition in each of said compatibility matrices designating thecompatibility of said plug-in power processing unit with said outputunit, whereby the compatibility of each of said power processing unitsis designated by common indicia within each of said first and secondpositions in each of said compatibility matrices on each of said powerprocessing units.
 11. The power processing system as recited in claim 10wherein said indicia is a graphical icon or chroma.
 12. A power plantemploying an identification system for selecting one or more compatiblepower processing components for use in said power plant, said powerplant comprising: a label attached to each of said power processingcomponents; a compatibility matrix on each of said labels; and indiciawithin each of said compatibility matrices designating operationalcharacteristics of said power processing components, whereby saidcompatible power processing components are easily selected by comparisonof said indicia within like positions of each of said compatibilitymatrices.
 13. The power plant as recited in claim 12 wherein saidindicia is a graphical icon or chroma.
 14. An identification system fora power processing unit couplable to a backplane of a power processingsystem, comprising: a label attached to the power processing unit; and acompatibility matrix, located on the label, that contains an indiciumdesignating at least one operational characteristic of the powerprocessing unit to facilitate proper placement of the power processingunit in the power processing system.
 15. The identification system asrecited in claim 14 wherein the power processing system includes aplurality of power processing units having respective labels andcompatibility matrixes with indicium, respective indicium of each of theplurality of power processing units designating at least one operationalcharacteristic thereof to facilitate proper placement of each of theplurality of power processing units in the power processing system. 16.The identification system as recited in claim 14 wherein the powerprocessing system further includes a second power processing unit, thesecond power processing unit, comprising: a second label, attached tothe second power processing unit, and a second compatibility matrix,located on the second label, that contains a second indicium designatingat least one operational characteristic of the second power processingunit, the second indicium being compared to the indicium to facilitateproper placement of the second power processing unit with respect to thepower processing unit in the proper processing system.
 17. Theidentification system as recited in claim 14 wherein the indiciumindicates a voltage of the power processing unit.
 18. The identificationsystem as recited in claim 14 wherein the compatibility matrix comprisesa graphical icon or a chroma.
 19. The identification system as recitedin claim 14 wherein the power processing unit is locatable in a plug-instation of the power processing system.
 20. For use with a powerprocessing unit couplable to a backplane of a power processing system, amethod for positioning the power processing unit in the power processingsystem, comprising: determining an operational characteristic of thepower processing unit; attaching a label to the power processing unit,the label having a compatibility matrix that contains an indiciumdesignating the operational characteristic of the power processing unit;and inserting the power processing unit in the power processing systembased on the compatibility matrix.
 21. The method as recited in claim 20wherein the power processing system includes a plurality of powerprocessing units, further comprising: determining an operationalcharacteristic of each of the plurality power processing units;attaching a label to each of the plurality of power processing units,the respective labels having a compatibility matrix that contains anindicium designating the operational characteristic of each of therespective plurality of power processing units; and positioning each ofthe plurality of power processing units in the power processing systembased on the respective compatibility matrixes.
 22. The method asrecited in claim 20 wherein the power processing system further includesa second power processing unit, further comprising: determining anoperational characteristic of the second power processing unit;attaching a second label to the second power processing unit, the secondlabel having a compatibility matrix that contains an indiciumdesignating the operational characteristic of the second powerprocessing unit; and orienting the second power processing unit inproper relation to the first power processing unit based on thecompatibility matrixes.
 23. The method as recited in claim 20 whereinthe act of determining includes determining a voltage rating of thepower processing unit and the indicium indicates the voltage rating. 24.The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the compatibility matrixcomprises a graphical icon or a chroma.
 25. The method as recited inclaim 20 wherein the act of inserting further comprises inserting thepower processing unit into a plug-in station of the power processingsystem.
 26. For use in a power processing system that receives powerfrom a power source, an input power processing unit, couplable to abackplane of the power processing system, that receives the power fromthe power source and processes the power for delivery to at least oneintermediate power processing unit via the backplane, the input powerprocessing unit, comprising: a label attached to the input powerprocessing unit; and a compatibility matrix, located on the label, thatcontains an indicium designating an operational characteristic of theinput power processing unit, the indicium of the input power processingunit comparable to an indicium of a compatibility matrix on the at leastone intermediate power processing unit to facilitate proper placement ofthe input power processing unit in the power processing system.
 27. Theinput power processing unit as recited in claim 26 wherein a location ofthe indicium associated with the input power processing unit correspondsto a location of the indicium associated with the at least oneintermediate power processing unit.
 28. The input power processing unitas recited in claim 26 wherein the indicium indicates a voltage suppliedto the at least one intermediate power processing unit.
 29. The inputpower processing unit as recited in claim 26 wherein the compatibilitymatrix comprises a graphical icon or a chroma.
 30. The input powerprocessing unit as recited in claim 26 wherein the label comprises aninput icon having an arrow entering a circle.
 31. For use in a powerprocessing system that receives power from a power source and processesthe power for delivery to a load, the power processing system having aninput power processing unit and an output power processing unitcouplable to a backplane of the power processing system, an intermediatepower processing unit that receives power from the input powerprocessing unit, develops processed power therefrom and delivers theprocessed power to the output power processing unit via the backplane,comprising: a label attached to the intermediate power processing unit;and a compatibility matrix, located on the label, that contains firstand second indicia designating first and second operationalcharacteristics, respectively, of the intermediate power processingunit, the first indicium comparable to an indicium of a compatibilitymatrix on the input power processing unit and the second indiciumcomparable to an indicium of a compatibility matrix on the output powerprocessing unit to facilitate proper placement of the intermediate powerprocessing unit in the power processing system.
 32. The intermediatepower processing unit as recited in claim 31 wherein a location of thefirst indicium associated with the intermediate power processing unitcorresponds to a location of the indicium associated with the inputpower processing unit and a location of the second indicium associatedwith the intermediate power processing unit corresponds to a location ofthe indicium associated with the output power processing unit.
 33. Theintermediate power processing unit as recited in claim 31 wherein thefirst indicium provides an indication of a voltage supplied by the inputpower processing unit to the intermediate power processing unit and thesecond indicium provides an indication of a voltage supplied by theintermediate power processing unit to the output power processing unit.34. The intermediate power processing unit as recited in claim 31wherein the compatibility matrix comprises at least one graphical iconor chroma.
 35. The intermediate power processing unit as recited inclaim 31 wherein the label comprises an input icon having an arrowentering a circle and an output icon having an arrow emerging from acircle.
 36. For use in a power processing system that receives powerfrom a power source and processes the power for delivery to a load, thepower processing system having an input power processing unit and atleast one intermediate power processing unit couplable to a backplane ofthe power processing system, an output power processing unit thatreceives power from the intermediate power processing unit via thebackplane and delivers the power to the load, comprising: a labelattached to the output power processing unit; and a compatibilitymatrix, located on the label, that contains an indicium designating anoperational characteristic of the output power processing unit, theindicium of the output power processing unit comparable to an indiciumof a compatibility matrix on the at least one intermediate powerprocessing unit to facilitate proper placement of the output powerprocessing unit in the power processing system.
 37. The output powerprocessing unit as recited in claim 36 wherein a location of theindicium associated with the output power processing unit corresponds toa location of the indicium associated with the at least one intermediatepower processing unit.
 38. The output power processing unit as recitedin claim 36 wherein the indicium indicates a voltage supplied to theoutput power processing unit.
 39. The output power processing unit asrecited in claim 36 wherein the compatibility matrix comprises agraphical icon or a chroma.
 40. The output power processing unit asrecited in claim 36 wherein the label comprises an output icon having anarrow emerging from a circle.